PDI Perjuangan faction split over support for Sutiyoso<\/p>\n
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
\nis split over its support for incumbent Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso
\nin the coming gubernatorial election.<\/p>\n
Some councillors defied the party's central board decision on
\nMonday by rejecting the nomination of Sutiyoso, despite the claim
\nof the central board secretary-general Soetjipto at the party'
\nleadership meeting in Bogor on Saturday that an official letter
\nto support Sutiyoso had been sent to the City Council's (PDI
\nPerjuangan) faction.<\/p>\n
The faction officially declared its decision to back the
\ncentral board's stance on Monday.<\/p>\n
However, Tarmidi Suhardjo, one of PDI Perjuangan (former)
\ncandidates said in Jakarta on Monday, "We have not received the
\nletter yet. But I still plan to run for the election."<\/p>\n
Tarmidi, the party's city chapter chairman, who is also the
\ncouncil's deputy chairman said that he would still run for the
\ngubernatorial election, scheduled for Sept. 17.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso, the former chief of the Jakarta Military Command, is
\na controversial candidate for many, especially the relatives of
\nthe victims of the July 27, 1996 incident, when PDI Perjuangan
\nheadquarters on Jl. Diponegoro, Jakarta, was taken over by force
\nby a rival party (the government-backed PDI led by Suryadi). The
\nJakarta military and police backed the unlawful move to take over
\nthe building.<\/p>\n
Tarmidi said he was fully aware of what he was doing,
\nasserting that he was ready to face the consequences. He could be
\nkicked out of the party for his defiance.<\/p>\n
He said he preferred to run for the election than betray the
\nparty's branches that had nominated him, along with the 10 other
\ncandidates. He recalled that the party, through the party's
\nchapter special meeting last month, did not put Sutiyoso on the
\nlist of the party's nominees.<\/p>\n
Another party councillor Dadang Hamdani, who was also
\nnominated (by PDI Perjuangan) as a candidate in the special
\nmeeting, also vowed to continue his candidacy.<\/p>\n
"I will run in the election whatever transpires," Dadang told
\nreporters.<\/p>\n
The third councillor who rejected Sutiyoso's candidacy was
\nTarmidi Edi Suwarno. He urged the party's city chapter to meet
\nagain to annul its earlier decision made last month, when the
\nparty agreed to nominated 11 party cadres, excluding Sutiyoso.<\/p>\n
"Therefore, there should be a new special meeting to annul the
\ncandidacy of the 11 candidates," said Suwarno, the chairman of
\nthe party's North Jakarta chapter.<\/p>\n
However, the party' council faction chairman Agung Imam
\nSumanto insisted on Monday that the faction had officially
\nnominated Sutiyoso as the sole candidate for Jakarta Governor.<\/p>\n
"We nominated Sutiyoso as it has been decided by the party's
\ncentral board," councillor Agung said on Monday.<\/p>\n
He claimed that party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri had
\nthe right to choose a candidate in the best interests of the
\nparty.<\/p>\n
Megawati has reportedly given full support to Sutiyoso, but
\npersonally, she has never spoken a single word on the issue.<\/p>\n
Party supporters grouped under the victims of the July 27
\ntragedy deplored Megawati's support for Sutiyoso, calling her a
\ntraitor.<\/p>\n
"The 11 candidates should drop their candidacy as the party
\nhas decided (to nominate Sutiyoso). But if they continue to run
\nits their personal decision," Agung said.<\/p>\n
The next election would be determined by the city's 85
\ncouncillors. PDI Perjuangan has 30 seats in the council, the
\nNational Mandate Party 13, United Development Party 12,
\nIndonesian Military (TNI)\/National Police faction nine seats,
\nGolkar Party eight seats while the remaining seats belong to
\nseveral small parties.<\/p>\n
So far only PDI Perjuangan's deputy chairman and legislator
\nRoy B. B. Janis dropped his candidacy after hearing the party's
\ndecision.<\/p>",
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